Queen’s secret Whitlam correspondence inspires Sydney Theatre Company play in 2027 14. September 2026 (11:15) STC’s 2027 program also features Celeste Barber in Amy Sedaris and David Sedaris play, Tim Minchin as Scrooge and the return of The Picture of Dorian GraySix years after the Australian historian Jenny Hocking won her legal battle to release secret correspondence between Queen Elizabeth II, Malcolm Fraser and the governor general John Kerr, her fight to reveal the truth about Gough Whitlam’s dismissal is being adapted for the stage.The Palace Letters, announced on Monday as part of Sydney Theatre Company’s 2027 program, will have its world premiere at Sydney Opera House in April. It will star Georgie Parker as Hocking, with Jonathan Biggins playing Whitlam. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reform declines to say if £72m donors returned to UK within 12-month limit 14. September 2026 (11:09) Richard Tice says contributions are legally compliant after author of review into overseas donations says rules will be applied retrospectivelyReform UK’s deputy leader has declined to say when two crypto billionaires who gave a combined £72m to the party returned to the UK, as the architect of a review into overseas donations said anyone here for less than 12 months would be subject to a limit on donations.Richard Tice said that while he was completely confident Reform had complied with all current and proposed laws on donations, he could not say when Ben Delo returned to the UK from Hong Kong, or how much time the Thailand-based Christopher Harborne spent in Britain. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK ministers urged to act after US flies out diplomat accused of possessing indecent images of children 14. September 2026 (11:06) US officials reportedly raided envoy’s London home and took him to American airbase without warning Met policeUK politics live – latest updatesBritish ministers face calls to act after US authorities secretly flew out of the UK a diplomat accused of possessing indecent images of children.US officials reportedly raided the diplomat’s London flat in August before taking him to an American airbase and flying him out of the country, without warning the Metropolitan police. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Indonesian police investigate deaths of Australian man and two children in Bali as suspected murder-suicide 14. September 2026 (10:44) Police in Bali believe the two young children died as a result of violence, while a 57-year-old man is believed to have taken his own life Indonesian police are investigating the deaths of three Australians who died in Bali over the weekend, with initial reports suggesting a father killed his two young children before taking his own life.The man, 57, and his two children, seven and four, who are also Indonesian citizens, were discovered deceased in a bungalow in Kuta on Sunday morning. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Oil prices rise after drone attacks shut down Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline 14. September 2026 (10:03) Price spike comes as rebel Houthis in Yemen target oil infrastructure and capture strategic island in Bab al-Mandab straitBusiness news – live updatesOil prices have climbed above $108 a barrel after a series of drone attacks forced Saudi Arabia to close its east-west crude pipeline.Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, surged to as much as $108.03 a barrel on Monday – a 3.25% increase on the day. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Thames Water redraws mega-reservoir plan amid local opposition 14. September 2026 (10:00) A new public consultation has opened on the 150bn-litre above-ground White Horse project in Abingdon, OxfordshireThames Water has amended the blueprint of a planned mega-reservoir in Oxfordshire as the struggling utility tries to convince regulators that construction should go ahead amid warnings of “catastrophic consequences”.The White Horse reservoir near Abingdon is scheduled to hold 150bn litresof water with a surface area of 6.7 sq km (2.6 sq miles) – almost the same size as Gatwick airport. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
AI-linked stocks fall after tech bosses call for slowdown in ‘reckless’ development 14. September 2026 (09:32) Shares in tech firms tumble across Asia with Nasdaq also likely to dip later after Anthropic, OpenAI and SpaceX leaders back callBusiness news – live updatesAI-linked stocks tumbled on Monday after the bosses of Anthropic, OpenAI and SpaceX called for a slowdown in “reckless” development citing fears the technology could soon run out of control.Shares in SoftBank, a Japanese investor that is a big backer of OpenAI, slumped 13%, while the South Korean Kospi stock index, which relies heavily on chip makers that supply AI companies, dropped by 3%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israel accused of trying to ‘eliminate’ living conditions for Palestinians in West Bank 14. September 2026 (09:23) Report by Israeli human rights group says systematic and broad assault being waged on conditions required for Palestinians’ existenceIsrael is working towards the systematic “elimination” of the conditions that sustain Palestinian collective life in the occupied West Bank, according to a major report published by the human rights group B’Tselem.The Israeli organisation’s hard-hitting report, shared with the Guardian in advance of publication, says Israel is “dramatically intensifying its attacks on every aspect of Palestinian life in the West Bank”, including “the ability to get to work, take children to school or university, receive medical treatment or municipal services, meet family and friends, cultivate land or go on vacation … routine activities that make up human life”.1,107Number of Palestinians killed by Israel in the West Bank since October 2023 Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pauline Hanson’s comments about Indigenous Australians condemned as ‘nasty’ and ‘derogatory’ 14. September 2026 (08:38) Indigenous senators have criticised One Nation leader saying the comments showed ‘wilful ignorance’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our new political email, free app or daily news podcastFederal parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have joined in condemning resurfaced comments by Pauline Hanson as “nasty” and “derogatory”, after she labelled Indigenous Australians the “most primitive race on Earth”.The Indigenous affairs minister, Malarndirri McCarthy, a Yanyuwa and Garrwa woman, described the One Nation senator’s comments as “totally outrageous” while her opposition counterpart, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, said Hanson’s comments showed “wilful ignorance” and had “dragged the conversation into appalling territory”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Tidal wave’ of Pfas being launched to satisfy AI industry, campaigners warn 14. September 2026 (08:00) Big manufacturers planning to produce more of the forever chemicals to meet demand from datacentresPfas companies are launching a “tidal wave” of forever chemicals production to meet demand from the AI industry, a campaign organisation has warned.Despite alarm over the chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, a survey of the 10 biggest manufacturers found most had plans to increase production. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
